Principal Electrical Engineer

Principal Electrical Engineer - Madison Heights, VA

Shibuya Hoppmann has an immediate opening in our Madison Heights, VA facility for a Principal Electrical Engineer

Principal Electrical Engineer

PLC | Controls | Systems Architecture | Advanced Servo

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Electrical Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority for large-scale controls applications, PLC architecture, advanced servo systems, electrical design standards, machine safety, user specification review, sales quotation technical review, and industrial automation.

This is not primarily a department management position. The Principal Electrical Engineer will act as the lead technical resource for complex controls projects, establish electrical and controls design standards, review customer specifications, approve sales quotations for electrical and controls scope, mentor engineers and technicians, support difficult troubleshooting efforts, and help ensure that automation systems are reliable, maintainable, serviceable, and scalable.

The ideal candidate has strong experience with industrial automation, Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, VFDs, industrial networks, electrical schematics, control panels, safety systems, machine-level integration, customer specification review, and quotation support.

• Leading large-scale PLC, HMI, servo, motion control, and automation system applications
• Establishing electrical design and controls programming standards
• Reviewing customer/user specifications for electrical and controls requirements
• Reviewing and approving sales quotations for electrical and controls scope
• Developing reusable PLC code structures, HMI standards, and commissioning practices
• Supporting advanced servo and motion control design, tuning, and troubleshooting
• Reviewing complex electrical and controls designs for quality and consistency
• Mentoring electrical engineers, controls engineers, designers, and technicians
• Supporting machine startup, commissioning, field troubleshooting, and customer technical issues
• Ensuring designs align with NFPA 70, NFPA 70E, NFPA 79, UL 508A, and EN 60204-1

Required experience includes:

• Industrial automation and machine controls
• PLC programming and control system integration
• Advanced servo and motion control systems
• Electrical design and control panel standards
• Sales quotation review and technical scope validation
• Machine safety systems and industrial networks
• Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation platforms preferred
• Strong troubleshooting, mentoring, and communication skills

This is a senior hands-on technical leadership role for an experienced controls and electrical engineering professional who can set standards, review technical scope, solve complex automation problems, mentor technical personnel, and lead the development of high-quality control system solutions.

Starting salary depends on experience and education.

Salary Range: $45 – $60/hour

Full-Time Employee Benefits

Full-time employee benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, 401k plan with employer match, employer paid life insurance, employer paid short-term and long-term disability insurance, paid time off (starting at 13 days of PTO in the first year of employment), and 8 paid holidays.

All new hires are subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment physical (including drug & alcohol screening).

Full Time Employee Benefits

Full time employee benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, 401k plan with employer match, employer paid life insurance, employer paid short-term and long-term disability insurance, paid vacation and holidays. All new hires are subject to a pre-employment background check, credit check, and a pre-employment physical (including drug & alcohol screening).